Barca eyeing 'historic' chance in title showdown

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has admitted he was too quick to write off his side's La Liga title chances as they host Atletico Madrid tonight knowing a win will hand them a fifth title in six years.

Xavi was among a number of players who claimed Barca's chance had gone with a 2-2 draw at home to Getafe two weeks ago, but a remarkable end to the tightest title race in years in Spain in which the top three have failed to win in their last seven combined games has gifted the Catalans a second chance.

"We thought that we didn't have a chance and perhaps we threw the towel in too soon," said the Spanish international. "We thought the league was lost, but these things happen in football and now we have everything in our favour to win. It is a very important title and we need to be united. It is a historic opportunity. It will be a spectacular finale."

Victory would secure an eighth league title for Xavi and a seventh for the departing Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes, but he insists the most decorated squad in Barca's history still have the hunger to succeed.

"We have a great generation of players. This is a unique match, a unique opportunity, which may never come round again. It would be the icing on the cake for this generation to play in such a vital match."

However, to win the league Barca will have to do something they have failed to in five previous meetings this season and beat Diego Simeone's exceptionally well-organised Atletico side.

Barca have managed just two goals in those five encounters and have yet to go in front in any of them, which makes the first goal the key for Xavi.

"They are the best team defensively, they press high, they are solid and attack with variation. One of the keys to the game is to go ahead to make them have to come out more."